Reflections – 2013.10

Government Shut-up – October 2013

Last night at the evening meal, I was asked about the government shutdown. I would love to say I spoke eloquently about the inner workings of our federal government, how we arrived at the situation as it currently stands, what some possible solutions are, the benefits and downsides of the Affordable Care Act, and so on. But I did not. I must confess that I was actually unaware that it had shut down.

Now if my children had asked about the government shut-up, I would have been much better prepared. The government shut-up is in Psalm 82:

“God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked….”

“You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”

The “gods” here, those rulers who were responsible for executing justice, loving mercy, walking humbly with the Most High God, had instead executed injustice, loved personal gain and were proud, making names for themselves. This is not how government was to work. The text says that “all the foundations of the earth are shaken” – and then God takes his place – and there is a government shut-up … all are silent before Him as He rises and passes judgment – “you shall die, and fall like any prince.”

Each of us has been given work to do in this world, good work. Like these Psalm 82 judges, we stand before the Lord having been given this good work to do in a godly way, with justice, beauty, kindness, creativity, truth … whether we serve as engineers, teachers, politicians, mothers, students, tradesmen, pastors or judges, in whatever we do, the Lord looks and calls us to live and to work in such a way that He is glorified, that we live up to the name of “gods”, “sons [and daughters] of the Most High” by imitating Him, not by trying to usurp His place. Imagine you and your co-laborers “in the divine council”, in a room full of people who do what you do – and God has taken His place to judge. How would He evaluate your work? It is a picture worth keeping in our minds … Let us ask for forgiveness when we fail and seek the Spirit’s encouragement and strength in all that we do, and let’s get to work – and may God be glorified as we live our lives for Him.